Detachable lens for one-piece channeled mountings



May 23, 1950 E. M. sPLAlNE 2,508,870

DETACHABLE LENS FOR ONE-PIECE CHANNELED MOUNTINGS Filed Sept. 4, 1945 INVENTOR EDWARD M. SPl/fl/NE ATTO RN Y Patented May 23, 1950 DETACHABLE LENS FOR onus-rises CHANNELED MoU TIN s Edward M. Splaine,--Southbridge, Mass, assignor 1 to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application September 4,1945, Serial No.'614,'150

This invention relates to improvements in oph thalmic devices and more especially in eye protection devices,'and has particular reference to a device embodying a transparent shield orlens for protecting the eyes from flying particles or the like and which transparent shield or lens may have embodied therein means for varying and controlling the light transmitted thereby. This invention is an improvement over that disclosed by copending application No. 568,282, filed De cember 15,1944, now Patent 2,472,731 and entitled One-piece channeled lens mounting.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is light in weight, durable and which has its shield or lens supporting parts located above the useful field of vision of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character having its shield or lens portion formed of initially fiat sheet plastic material defining two lens portions supported by a reinforcing bar curved to conform substantially to the contour or curvature of the face of the wearer and being of sufficient rigidity to retain the shield or lens substantially to its curvature when said bar and lens are in assembled relation with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having a reinforcing bar curved to conform substantially tothe curvature of the face of the wearer and a shield or lens portion formed of sheet plastic material defining two lens portions and detachably supported thereby so that it may be replaced by another shield or lens portion of difierent light transmitting properties when desired or replaced by a similar shield when the original is scratched, broken or otherwise damaged.

Another object is to provide a shield or lens supporting bar of the above character to which temples may be connected and having an intermediate thickened portion functioning as brow engagement means for retaining the shield or lens properly spaced relative to the eyes.

Anotherobject is to provide a shield or lens formed of sheet plastic material defining two lens portions having a nasal recess in the lower edge thereof in combination with a nose engagement member having a grooved portion fitted in said nasal recess portion and adapted to rec ive the adjacent edge of the lens and to be detachably secured to said lens by suitable attaching means.

Another object is to provide a reinforcing bar of the above character having grooves and a re- 2 Claims. (01. 8841') to receive the edge of the shield or lens and in which the lens is-detachably secured by suitable means.

Another object is to provide a brow engagement bar or brace bar of the above character having a recess or channelled portion formed therein ior'reducing the weight of the bar and for receiving a portion of the shield and allowing flexing thereof while the shield is being fitted to or ilgemoved from assembled position with the brace Another'object is to provide a brace bar of the above character having integral perforated lug portions adjacent the opposed ends ther of to which temples maybe pivotally connected and a fixed or integral lug or projection intermediate the ends for detachably securing the intermediate tor central portion of the shield in assembled posiion.

V Other objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. The invention therefore is not to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described as the preferred form only has been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device;

Fig. 3 is an-enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of the device of Fig. l in position to be assembled;

Fig. 5-is a sectional view taken on line 5--5'of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and I Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3'but showing a modified form of attaching means.

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises a sheet of transparent material 5 shaped to provide a pair of integral shield =or' lens portions 6 and a nasal recess 1 in the lower edge thereof as shown best in Fig. 4. The said integral shield or lens portions 6 are preferably blanked from sheet plastic ;cess' extending longitudinally thereof and adapted I6 materiaL-suchas cellulose acetate, methyl meth- The integral shield or lens portion 6 is pro vided with an upper curved edge 8 adapted to fit within a pair of later-ally spaced slots or seats 9 and a central recess in formed longitudinally of a reinforcing bar or support; IL. The bar or" support H may be formed. of any suitable ma- 1 terial, preferably moldable plastic material, such as for example, cellulose acetate, methyl metha crylate or other known artificial resinous materials or may be formed of cellulose nitrateor the like depending upon the nature of the material used for the shield or lens portion.-. The. sheet materials is removably secured within the longitudinal slots or seats 9 and recess II] by means of retaining members l2 located near the oes site. ends of the bar I i andiby a sletan Pin con nection l3.- or the like. intermediate the ends at the bar. Each retaining member I2 as best shown. n. F ss arranged to ex end. throu an aperture 1.4 form-ed, in. the bar H and sheet material 5. and maybe, formed as. a. pin; having. a

nasal recess 1, is provided, as best shown in Fig. 4, with shouldered portions 22 adapted to receive the ends 23 of a nose engagement member 24. The said nose engagement member 24 is shaped substantially to the contour shape of the nasal recess 1 but in Fig. 4 has its lower ends 23 slightly pressed toward each other for insertion into the recess 1'. The member 24' is provided with a slot 25 to receive the edge 26 of the shield or lens portion adjacent said nasal recess. The nose engagement member 24 is also detachably secured to the shield or lens portion 6 in a maning inwardly irom the other end a, substantial dis ance. centrally there-oi to. provide resilient arms l6. These arms-are. of: suflicient length; to ex end completelythrough the bar and sheet. ma terial and. are provided with slightly" enlarged ends. is for en aging the outer. suriace of. the bar adjacent. the; aperture. 14 and keepi the 112* taining member in place. The connection ii preferably formed by the provision oi afix d: p t3. extended, t r ugh heiront. w ll of he bar ll and terminating centrally within the. r cess Ill or by the provision otani equiyalentlug; form d inte rally with the bar H and extending reabwardlv therefrom in. said recess... The fixed. Pin or ntegral his ar a ged to enter: a. p t-oration: 1 in the sheet mate ial. 5 near the upper ether t.

The support, or bar H is. preier hlx' curved $111 stantially to the contour: shape or curvature of the face of the wearerandproizided with.- an intermediate portion of; increased thickness for a c mmo ating the recess lit and pr viding a rear surface I! for engaging the browofthe wearer when; inposition of: use and adapt to. space he hield or ens portions 5 from the eyes an amount sufiicient to clear the. eyelashes oi t e w ar r. The recess Hr also; provided for decre s ng; the weia t (ii-the The. saicisunport or bar H is provided adjacent its opposed ends. with, por ions 8, taper n ou wardl irom a d nterm diate he tie and: terminating: intemple lugs 59 preferably formed or the samemas t r l as: the. ppor r ar it either interna y therewith r s parately and. joined thsrewithbit a. suitable cemen solvent or other adhesive. suitable temples 2.0 termed, .1; materiali to; the support or; barmembe-rit: ra e uredte heelugs l8 preierabli; y: hineefmembersehlg either or ed at the same. materiali and. formed integrails with; the. temples. 20.,1 termed; separa ely and, of; metal iiiwhich instance the said him? members would. be secured to. the. e ples It by riyeisor e The sheet.- mater al 54., the iiieinitn oi he It head I 2 at one end and a central slot l5 extendtier somewhat similar to the support or bar ll and may be formed of the same materials as set forth for said bar H. The central portion 21 of the nose member is extended upwardly above the slot 25 sufiiciently to provide room for an aperture 28 through which a retaining member 1.2: is placed for securing the member 24 detachably to the sheet material 5 when assembled. The said nose engagement member 24 is provided with integralpadportions '29 for engaging the. opposed sides of the nose,, it being understood that the said pads are suitably angled, for proper and comfortable lit with the nose of the wearer..

It is particularly pointed out that the shield o lens portions. 6 are. initially formed 0t flat material and that when detachably secured within the slots 9 recess. Ill. of bar. U, the said shield or lens portions are curved to. fit within said slots and recess and are. adapted to be, retained substantialiy to. said curvature of the slots and the trout edge. of the recess during the use of the device. The said. shield. or lens portions may be tinted red green, or any other desirable color as well as embodying any other absorptive characteristics desired-i While the support or. bar member ii is described as. being curved, substane tiall-y, to the contour. or curvature of the face,

thesaid curvature is also. so controlled as to reducereflection at light. incident on the shield. or lens portion from a direction rearwardly of. the wearer.

The-shieldor lens portion 6 may be-cut blanked; or. otherwise shap d to: the. contour shape desired from sheet material having the proper characteristiesrequired: In-.- instances when the: shield or lens. portion. 6 is formed oi relatively thin ma erial itmay-be merely bent to the curvature of the bar. through the securing thereof. within the slots or seats a and recess Ill with the bar ti. being; solelydepended upon for retaining the shield. or lens to the desired curvature. In instances when, the. shield or lens formed of. relatively; thick, material the said, lens is preferably termed. and: set: substantially to, the curvature of the bar H and is then inserted within theslots seats 9. and recess-lot In this latter instance, the H1, or course: aids retaining theshield or: lens portion. 6 to said; desired curued; shape.

when it, is. desired to assemble theparts; of the device for use-,1 the. upper edge: 8;: of the shield: or lens portion his. p atted 9: part oi the Wayinto cthe slots 9. recess in and the: usher central portion of theshield: is then: flexedi rearwardly sumciently to clear the edge oithe pint or has: tax. so flexed the. shiefd is. then; moved iurther into; said; slots and recess: until the; per

ioration: t3 slips. user; the. end: of: the or his t3!- and; the: inherent: resiliency of; the sheet materiarsprings; the; upper edge 85 back into) its narmak position. showniin Fig: The retaining members l2: at theropposite: ends; or: the bar 1:! then inserted; through the, ban shield to securely hold these parts in place. The nose member 24 is in a somewhat similar manner engaged with the shield 8 by first slightly flexing the lower ends 23 thereof toward each other to clear the shouldered portions 22 on the lower edge of the shield as the edge 23 is brought into engagement with the slot 25 formed in the nose engagement member 24. When the ends 23 are released they spring outwardl and engage the shoulders 22. A retaining member I2 is then positioned through the aperture 28 in the upper part of the nose member 24 and through the shield to secure these parts together.

Thus it will be seen that the bar ll, shield B and nose engagement member 24 may as easily be disassembled if desired, such as when desiring to change shields having different light transmitting properties, or when replacing a scratched or damaged shield by a new shield.

When desired a retaining member 30, as shown in Fig. 6, may be employed instead of each retaining member 12 for holding the assembled bar and shield or the shield and nose member securely in place. The member 30 has a beveled head which may be seated or countersunk into an outer surface of the bar or nose engagement member so as to lie flush with said surface, thus avoiding any protuberance or edge which might otherwise catch into things and even be accidentally dislocated thereby during use.

Ordinarily, the bar H and end pieces l9, and likewise the nose bearing portion 24, will be formed as integral members by an injection molding process. The shield or lens portion 6 may be treated with suitable dyes or the like for producing the required absorptive characteristics, color, etc. The bar portion H and nose member ma be colored to produce any desired effect by brushing or spraying a suitable dye or the like thereon.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, eificient, and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An ophthalmic mounting of the character described comprising a bar-like support curved in the general direction of the face of the wearer and having a longitudinally extending groove in the underside thereof and temple connection means adjacent its ends, said groove, throughout a portion of the central area, of the support, being of increased width, said support having a projection member extending from the front wall thereof inwardly of the portion of the groove of increased width and of a length less than the width of said portion of the groove, a shield of flexible normally flat transparent sheet material having its upper edge shaped to be detachably fitted within the groove and having an opening spaced inwardly of said upper edge and adapted to receive the projection member and to be held in assembled relation therewith by the curving of the shield when positioned in the groove and detachable connection means adjacent the opposed ends of the shield and bar-like support for securing said ends together to retain said shield in said groove and to said curved shape.

2. An ophthalmic mounting of the character described comprising a bar-like support curved in the general direction of the face of the wearer and having a longitudinally extending groove in the underside thereof and temple connection means adjacent its ends, said groove, throughout a portion of the central area of the support, being of increased width, said support having a projection member extending from the front Wall thereof inwardly of the portion of the groove of increased width and of a length less than the Width of said portion of the groove, a shield of flexible normally flat transparent sheet material having its upper edge shaped to be detachably fitted within the groove and having an opening spaced inwardly of said upper edge and adapted to receive the projection member and to be held in assembled relation therewith by the curving of the shield when positioned in the groove, the end portions of said shield and support having aligned openings therein, and retractable collapsible members extending through said openings for detachably securing said end portions together to retain the shield in said groove and to said curved shape.

EDWARD M. SPLAINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,238,396 Elwood Aug. 28, 1917 1,596,019 Nelson Aug. 17, 1926 1,685,126 Evans Sept. 25, 1928 2,155,693 Tanasso et a1. Apr. 25, 1939 2,187,810 Rentz Jan. 23, 1940 2,191,937 Low Feb. 27, 1940 2,192,208 Stevens Mar. 5, 1940 2,337,617 Miller, Jr Dec. 28, 1943 2,360,482 Evans Oct. 17, 1944 2,387,849 Lehmberg et al. Oct. 30, 1945 2,387,851 Lown et a1. Oct. 30, 1945 2,397,243 Cooper Mar. 26, 1946 2,423,539 Williams July 8, 1947 2,444,498 Cochran July 6, 1948 

